A HAGLEY estate agent has been doing his bit to help those affected by flooding in Worcestershire.

Andrew Hipkiss is a member of the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) - an independent search and rescue team covering the Severn Estuary, Wye and Usk rivers and the River Severn.

The gutsy boss of family run estate agents Walton & Hipkiss was called out yesterday (Sunday) with the team from Severn Area Rescue Association - Wyre Forest Station, which is based at Kidderminster Fire Station, to help with the flooding in Tenbury Wells caused by Storm Dennis.

Mr Hipkiss, a volunteer driver and spokesman for SARA Wyre Forest Station, said he arrived for duty at 3pm and added: "The team and I were asked to relieve the already exhausted team who had been out there most of the day."

Stourbridge News:

It proved a long shift; even at midnight it wasn't over and the team were deployed to Worcester to help with a caravan park evacuation.

Mr Hipkiss, who has been a member of SARA for about three years, said he finally arrived home at around 6am this morning and he urged people to continue to be vigilant near waterways - adding: "Flood warnings remain in place, please be careful out there."

The SARA crew are all dedicated volunteers, like the RNLI, and they rely on donations from members of the public to continue providing their extensive search and rescue operation.

To find out more check out Severn Area Rescue Association Wyre Forest Station on Facebook.